Hi, I?EUR(TM)m really confused. I recently had ?EUR~Sky?EUR(TM) install a dish and box (with card). This gives me basic TV channels without any monthly contract. Only one of the twin cables goes into my new ?EUR~box?EUR(TM).

I?EUR(TM)d like to put a TV in a second room using the second cable from the ?EUR~Sky dish?EUR(TM) and into box which I hope to obtain on Ebay. I do not have a roofaerial.

My problem is: If I buy a ?EUR~Freeview?EUR(TM) box, can I get TV channels using the cable from the ?EUR~Sky dish?EUR(TM) or do I need a separate roof aerial?

If I buy a ?EUR~Sky standarddigital box?EUR(TM) second hand through Ebay do I need a ?EUR~Card?EUR(TM) to operate it or can these work without a card being installed. I assume I can connect it to the ?EUR~Sky dish?EUR(TM).

Robert Keenan: Freeview is a terrestrial based system which requires a normal aerial, and so if you want to use the second port on your dishes LNB then its a Freesat box you require.

A sky box does not require a card for any purpose other than enabling you to have the correct regional news service, as you can view practically everything else without it being installed and with only the odd exception applying, you can check what you can view by simply removing the card and running through the EPG listings.

If you want to view FreeSat, no card is needed. You can buy a FreeSat HD box and connect it to a dish if you already have one on your home, else you will need one to be fitted by a local satellite installer. A few TV sets already have a FreeSat HD suytem built in, but not many yet.

If you want to view Sky TV in HD, then contact Sky directly and they will supply a box and the required card - for a monthly subscription of course. Try looking at Switching to Sky TV - Join Sky online and follow the informartion given. Sky packages start at about £21 per month I think, HD is extra, Sky+ is extra, Movies, entertainment, Sport are all extra as well. The link above will lead you to all the information you need if it is Sky you want to watch.

I am looking to end my Skysubscription(I have a Sky+Hd box and pay ?40/month)as i am finding it an expense i can no longer afford!!! I have some questions,1. Can i use my Sky+HD box as a Freesat reciever without any modifactions,2. Do Sky still do their version of Freesat and if so how much do they charge for a card,3. If i need to,can i use a Sky+HD box to still record a Freesat programe.

(1) All Sky boxes can be used to receive Freesat programmes without any modifications being required.

(2) Very few "non dedicated subscription" programmes exist that actually requires the use of a viewing card, Sony TV (157) or Yesterday (537) being the only two that immediately springs to mind, the other purpose the card serves is to provide the viewer with news services appropriate to the area that they reside in, as the "minus the card" default area is London.
By the way, standard viewing cards cost in the region of a one time payment of ?25.00.

(3) The recording and playback side of a Sky box is disabled by Sky on cancellation of the contract, that is unless a new subscription is taken out at time of cancellation purely for the purpose of retaining the facility. the problem for some being, that the charge for this (dubious?) privilege of using the box for this purpose was around ?10.00 per month, I say "was", as it might well have been increased in recent times, many viewers opting to go along the Freesat line at this point by purchasing a Freesat HD twin tuner PVR which provides facilities similar to the Sky+ HD box, the Sky dish and connections from being 100% compatible with all Freesat devices.

There is though one other point to mention, being that HD reception on a Sky+ HD box minus a subscription being in force is only possible on the main PSB HD channels and one or two others excluding Ch5.

You can of course get an idea of what you will or will not, be able to view by removing your viewing card and running through the channels normally viewed, a "please insert viewing card" message being displayed on any that requires a viewing card being inserted. This test being more accurate if the box is first of all disconnected from the mains to delete anything stored in its memory, the viewing card being removed from same "before" the box is powered up again.

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